Ironing table



Aug. 20, 1929. w s PETTY 1,725,207

IRQNING TABLE F e April 2. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 20, 1929. w, s, PETTY 1,725,207

IRONING TABLE Filed April 12, 1928 2 Shets-Shat 2 Patented Aug. 20, 192 9 UNITED STATES WILLIAM S. PETTY, DENVER, COLORADO.

IRON IN G TABLE.

Application filed April 12, 1928. Serial No. 269,520.

My invention relates to ironing tables and is an improvement over my former invention, patent application on which was filed June 27th, 1927, Serial Number 201,656.

The object of this invention is to provide a construction for the laterally movable apron which will not bind even though the pressure in either direction he applied at any one of the four corners of the apron, and

which will permit the apron to move freely and easily at any time, either' toward or away from the operator, so that the apron will be a convenience only and in no way an annoyance.

I accomplish this object by providing two rackrails, mounted to slide on the table supports and each provided with a rack, with which a small gear meshes, the two small rack gears being securely fixed to the opposite ends of a drive shaft journaled in the supports, and the side rods for holding the fabric apron being carried by the two rackrails. The construction and operation of the device will be more clearly explained in the following description and in the drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation partially in section of my ironing table equipped with my self guiding rackrail apron. V

Figure 2 is a top elevation of the same, partially in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same, a modified form of apron being shown by dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a' perspective of one of the raokrails.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section of a rackrail, rack gear and drive shaft, partially in elevation.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 5 but showing a modified form of construction.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 5 but showing another modified form of construction, partially in elevation.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 5 but showing another modified form of construction, partially in elevation.

Figure 9 is a view showing the supports,

rackrails, rack gears, and drive shaft of the construction shown in Figure 8 when taken down ready for packing and shipment.

The ironing surface 1 is covered by the padding 5, held in place by the tacks 6 or in any other suitable manner.

The supports 2, preferably of metal, are attached to the board by the countersunk bolts 3 and the nuts 4. The supports 2 are connected by the tie rod 7 and nuts 8.

The rackrail 9, preferably of pressed steel, is provided with the rack 10, adapted to mesh with the rack gear 11, the rackrails be ing mounted on the supports 2 by the rackrail guides 12, which are held to the supports 2 by the bolts and nuts 14 and 15.

The supports 2 may be threaded if desired and the bolts 14 screwed directly into the supports, eliminating the nuts 15, if desired.

The rack gears 11 are mounted upon the drive shaft tapered pins 17 See Figure 5.

By this construction the two rackrails are geared together by the racks, the rack gears and the drive shaft, and movement of either rackrail in either direction revolves its rack gear, and through the drive shaft the other rack gear and rackrail is moved a like amount in the same direction.

The side rods 23 pass through the loops 25 of the fabric apron 24, and through the holes 26 on the ends of the rackrails 9.

The vertical outer web 29 of the rackrail is bent back at each end of the rackrail till it is parallel with the outer surface and flush with the inner edges of the horizontal webs 27, forming a short internal vertical web 28. The holes 26 pass through both the inner and the outer webs 28 and 29, so as to form a proper support for the side rods 23.

The ends of the side rods 23 are threaded to receive the nuts 30, the rods 23 being a free fit in the holes 26 and having a slight amount of endwise play through the holes 26, so that the rackrails will not be clamped to the supports 2 by the nuts 30.

The rack 10 is preferably made of pressed steel, and spot welded to the rackrail 9. This makes a light, strong and cheap construction, though the rackrail and rack may be cast in one piece or made in any other proper manner desired so long as its functions are still properly performed.

As stated above, when one rackrail is moved, the other is moved a like amount in the same direction, through action of the rack gears and connecting drive shaft.

And this remains true when one or both rackrails receive pressure, either applied directly or through pressure first applied to one of the side rods 23.

16, and secured thereon by the Hence, when the side rods 23 and the fabric apron 24 and nuts 30 are all assembled in place, the completed apron moves freely and easily when pressure in either direction is applied to either rackrail or to the side rod at any place along its length.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figure 6, the drive shaft 16 is provided with a key 31 secured in the shaft 16 bythe rivets 32 or in any other proper manner; or the key may even be made integral with the shaft.

The support 2 is provided with a boss 2 bored to receive and form a bearing for the hub of the rackgear 11. The shaft 16 may be splin'ed and the rack gear 11 adapted to fit upon the spline, or any other proper method of mounting the shaft 16 removably in the rack gear 11 so the two will revolve together may be used if desired. But, I prefer the single key as shown.

In the construction shown in Figure 7 the mounting of the rack gear 11 on the short stub shaft 16 is the same as that shown in Figure 5, the drive tube being then secured to the stub shaft 16 by the oif-center tapered pin 34.

In the construction shown in Figure 8, the stub shaft 35 is attached to the rack gear 11 the same as shown in Figure 5; but the stub shaft 35 is cut to form the tongue 36 which fits in the jaws of the swivelcd drive shaft 37, the connection being made by the pin 38.

WVhen my ironing table is shipped, it is taken apart and packed knocked down in order to save freight, and Figure 9 illustrates how the construction shown in Figure 8 permits this.

The positions of the two supports 2, the swi'veled drive shaft 37, the stub shafts 35, the rackrails 9 and rack gear 11 are shown when ready to be attached to a plank or otherwise'prepared for shipment.

With the other two forms of construction illustrated, it is possible that inexperience or carelessness in assembling the table after it is received, might result in the rackrails, rack gears and drive shaft being assembled improperly so that one rackrail might be a few teeth out of step with the other rackrail, which would result in the apron not being square with the table.

WVhere as shown, tapered pins, off-center pins, or single keys are used, it should require very little care or intelligence to properly assemble the table.

But the construction shown in Figures 8 and 9 insures that the table will be assembled properly as it is received. The rackrails, rack gears, stub shafts and drive shaft are all to be properly assembled at the factory before shipment, and the jointed shaft connection between the two rack gears permits shipment with all parts still connected.

In the construction shown in Figure 7, when taken down for shipment, the off-center tapered pins 34 would be taken out and the drive tube 33 removed from both stub shafts 16'. But the support 2, rackrail 9, rack gear 11 and stub shaft 16 would remain assembled as a unit.

When these two units were assembled again the off-center tapered pins ea would insure the proper assembling unless one rack gear was an entire revolution one way or the other along the rack from the other rack gear; and as this amounts to a distance of four or five inches along the rack, it is reasonable to assume that most persons who would be likely to attempt to assemble the table at all would have enough understanding to rectify any such great error.

In the construction shown in Figure 6, the

support 2,. the rackrail and the rack gear would remain assembled as a unit. And since each end of the shaft 16 has but one key, this construction would be assembled properly or one entire revolution of one of the rack gears out of place, the same as the construe-- tion shown in Figure 7.

hen the construction shown in Figure 5 is to be taken down for shipment, the rackrail guides 12 are taken off and the rackrails removed so that the tapered pins 17 may be removed and the rack gears and the shaft 16 removed from the supports 2.

There are, of course, other modified constructions which might be used, not only for ease of taking down'and re-assembling after shipment, but in the construction and mounting of the rackrails, the rack gears and the supports.

Any intelligent mechanic would perceive as much after my invention has been disclosed to him.

In any case, when the table is taken down for shipment, the apron and side rods and the tie rod, are of course removed before the support are removed from the top 1.

It will now be seen that I have provided a laterally movable apron from an ironing table which will not bind but which will move freely under any conditions in either direction, so that the apron will be a convenience only, and in no way an annoyance.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is as follows 2-,-

1. In combination, a table provided with a top and supports acent both ends thereof, a shaft provided with a gear adjacent each end journaled in said supports, a movable end member provided with a rack adapted to mesh with one of the gears mounted on each support, side members mounted adjacent the corresponding ends of said end members and forming therewith a four sided frame, and a fabric apron mounted on the side members.

2. In combination, a table having a top provided with supports at both ends, a frame having two end pieces and two side pieces mounted to move laterally under the top and to move selectively toward either one side or the other thereof, means attached to the frame and forming therewith a receptacle, a shaft j ournaled on the two supports and having a gear adjacent each end thereof, and a rack carried by each end piece of the frame and adapted to mesh with the adjacent gear.

3. In combination, a table provided with a top having supports at both ends, a frame having two end pieces and two side pieces mounted thereon and adapted to move laterally beneath the top and to extend selectively to either one side or the other thereof, means attached to the frame and forming therewith a receptacle, a rack carried by each end piece, a gear adapted to mesh with each rack, and means mounted on the supports and adapted to cause the two gears to rotate together and thereby cause the end pieces to move together.

4. In combination, a table provided with a top having supports at both ends thereof, a frame having two end pieces and two side pieces mounted thereon at a lower level than the top and laterally movable thereunder toward either one side or the other selectively, means attached to the frame forming a receptacle, a rack carried by each end piece, a gear adapted to mesh with each rack, and means journaled on the supports and joining the gears and adapted to cause them to rotate together.

5. In combination, a table provided with a. top having supports at both ends thereof, a frame having two end pieces and two side pieces mounted thereon below the top and laterally movable with respect thereto to- 40 ward either one side or the other selectively, means attached to the frame and therebyl forming a receptacle adapted to hold portions of an article while other portions thereof are upon the top, a rack carried by each end piece, a gear adapted to mesh with each rack, and means journaled on the supports and joining the gears and adapted to cause them to rotate together.

6. The combination of a table composed of a top, and legs supporting the top and both ends thereof, guides mounted on the legs, a frame having two sides and two ends under the top, the ends supported by the said guides, a fabric attached to the frame and forming therewith a receptacle laterally movable with respect to the top toward either one side or the other selectively, a rack carried by each end piece, a gear adapted to mesh with each rack, and means, including a shaft j ournaled on the table legs, connecting the gears and causing them to rotate together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM S. PETTY. 

